New Orleans prevails against Rams on Carney overtime field goal

Perturbed after being described as a journeyman, fill-in Aaron Stecker responded with his first career 100-yard day in the Saints' 28-25 overtime victory over the St. Louis Rams on Sunday.

Stecker's performance added balance for the Saints, who also got big games from Aaron Brooks, kicker John Carney and defensive end Charles Grant, who had three of his team's five sacks.

Stecker, who entered the game with 443 yards in four-plus seasons, was supposed to split time with Ki-Jana Carter, and the Saints figured to struggle on the ground with McAllister sidelined by a high ankle sprain. Stecker ended up with 106 yards on 19 carries, including a 42-yard touchdown run.

"Hey, I'm a running back," Stecker said. "It's not like they pulled me out of the front office and said 'Deuce is out, do you know how to play some running back?'

"I believe in myself and my teammates had no doubt in me."

Brooks calmly directed the winning drive, Carney kicked five field goals and Grant led a strong defensive effort that combined to end the Rams' 15-game regular-season home winning streak. The Saints have never been intimidated by the Rams' home, winning in St. Louis in 2000 and '01, when both teams were in the NFC West.

"I don't know if they don't like to play us," Saints coach Jim Haslett said. "I know we don't like to play them because of all the talent they have, but I don't know if they like to play us, either."

New Orleans (2-1) somehow forced overtime after the Rams (1-2) took the lead on Marc Bulger's 19-yard scramble with 28 seconds to go.

Then they stuffed the Rams' once high-powered offense in overtime and drove to Carney's clinching 31-yarder with 7:59 left in overtime.

The Rams won the toss in overtime, and they converted a somewhat ill-advised fourth-and-1 play from their 41 to keep the drive alive.

Then they promptly lost momentum, punted and never got the ball back.

The Rams (1-2), who won the NFC West last year, have yet to force a turnover. Last year, they lost two of the first three on the road before recovering to go 12-4.

"We were 1-2 last year and no one thought we could come back and take the lead in this game," Bulger said. "So, we've been there before. No one is this locker room is going to give up."